Highland Ponies take part in trial grazing project at Culloden battlefield

Conservation charity National Trust for Scotland has recruited a team of Highland ponies to take part in a trial grazing project to prevent Culloden battlefield turning from moorland to woodland.

Whilst the growth of woodland would be welcomed at most rural sites, the custodians of the Culloden battlefield are keen to preserve the battlefield in the moorland state in which it would have appeared at the time of the famous battle in 1746, when the forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie were defeated by government troops.

Now, five Highland Ponies from the Newtonmore Pony Centre - Fraoch, Ghillie Bhuidhe, Findhorn Paulo, Gordina and Grian - will stay at Culloden in order to combat a recent growth of scrub.

Rob Dewar, the Trust’s Nature Conservation Advisor (North) said: 'Standing at the centre of the battlefield it was satisfying to see the ponies looking so much at home in Culloden’s environment.

'The ponies have settled in well and on my last visit Grian rolled on his back and kicked out his legs almost as if to emphasise how happy he feels here.

'Although Culloden will always have a melancholy atmosphere because of what happened on this site, those bare-backed ponies lifted my sprit, and in some way their presence felt very poignant to me.'

For more on the work of the National Trust for Scotland, visit the NTS website.

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